The woodcutter’s forest home, half an hour from Santander beaches

We loved our stay at the Woodcutters cottage. It was an oasis of peace in the woodland and truly private in its own wood. It is well furnished and has everything you need for a weeks stay in terms of kitchen, dining, and relaxation. The sauna was an excellent bonus and the barberque area was lovely both daytime and in the evenings. Great views across the countryside each morning as the sun rose. Easy to reach shops nearby and well located for day trips such as Santillana del Mar and the amazing Cave of Altamira as well as the port of Santander.Etel was very helpful with suggestions of places to eat and visit."

The location is really wonderful!! Completely isolated and alone. A place with lush vegetation - quit another world. THe reality is even better and more beautiful as you can see on the pictures. And really only half an hour to Santander beaches. A very good butcher in La Cavada, a nice place to have always a good cold draft beer :-) We´ll come back !"

Very nice house. Perfect place. Recommend it!"

Place was just like the photos. The host was very nice and easy to contact. Very happy with our stay"

The cottage is very nice, very quiet and it is very nicely decorated full of details. We enjoyed it a lot."

The property was amazing and the location ideal for us. The host, Etel, was most friendly and helpful throughout our stay. The booking process with Rustixal Travel was straightforward and we got prompt replies to any enquiries we had. I'd highlyrecommend Rustical Travel and I hope to reurn to the Woodcutters Cottage in future."

We had a good time in the house, which is cosy, comfortable and well equipped. The sauna and outdoor kitchen area are very nice extras. When it is cloudy/rainy the house can be a bit dark, and we believe it would be nicer if some trees were selectively pruned to allow more sunlight and also a better enjoyment of the surrounding landscape. The driveway starts to get a bit overgrown too."

The house was everything we were looking for, just as it was represented online. We would have stayed much longer if we were able to."

A beautiful property which we enjoyed very much. We had very comfortable beds. The facilities in the cottage were complete. The caretaker Etel received us perfectly. She was extremely helpful with tips and local information. Again thank you for all the good service that we received."

We had a most enjoyable time in the woodcutter’s lodge.It’s really very special.I think it’d be a good idea to point out to future visitors interested in hiking that they should organisemaps etc. beforehand as it was impossible to obtain any information in the tourist offices.Still we had some nice walks but will make sure to be better prepared next time as we intend to go back"

The whole experience was excellent. From using your website to booking, then the after sales care, were all very good indeed. Arrival at the property was good, although we got thee from Bilbao a lot quicker than the time you suggested. Meeting with the manager of the property was excellent. She showed us everything we needed to know about the property, and we thought the property itself was absolutely lovely. We'll be booking with Rustical Travel again."

Nothing to say other than EXCELLENT!!"

We had a great time at the cottage, Etel (the host) was very helpful and shared many great ideas for spending our time - food, beaches and special places of interest. It is very well located for some fantastic beaches and interesting local villages. The only downside is the fact that is so overgrown with trees and bushes that it is difficult to see the amazing views or find a spot in the sun - we could not eat/spend time outside in the sun as much as we would have liked."

Beautiful property with a hideaway feel. The house is passionately and immaculately renovated and has all the facilities one would need. The outside cooking area with clay oven is also full of character and atmosphere. Great welcome from the keyholder who gave us much advice about places to visit and eat. Close to some amazing scenery and easily accessible to the beach. The only improvements I'd make is some general pruning and care of the vegetation around the house to make the terraced garden area to the back and the steps more accessible and appreciated. I must add that Rustical Travel has excellent customer service with clear, prompt and useful communications at all times."

It's a beautifull house and we've had a wonderful stay. It is high in de mountains and most of the time we lived in a cloud. The owners did not do much at garden and space around the house. A lot of very high trees, so you can not see much from the hills .The stairs outside are covered with green and gras, very uncomfortebel when it's wet ."

We had a very pleasant stay. Everything you need is present in the cottage, a beautiful cottage by the way, nice surrounding, quiet. Friendly reception!"

Just to say a big thank you. The Woodcutters Cottage was simply charming and the sauna an added bonus. The surrounding area was very beautiful and unspoilt and the local people very friendly - beating in mind our almost total lack of Spanish. Lierganes is a lovely town and the service from Rustical Travel was superb. Best wishes."

My family and I rented this cottage for the second part of our Spain trip, after a stay in the South, near Malaga. This property surpassed every description we saw online. Our contact there, Etel, was very friendly and helpful throughout our holiday. The cottage was clean and well equipped but the surroundings and the geography of the plot are the main attraction. A very nice outdoor seating are with a barbeque and clay oven is available and for the more chilly nights you can cuddle up in front of the fire or have a nice relaxing sauna. A few very small niggles could be: the property felt very damp, due to the woodland surroundings so whenever you got into the fairly small bed, the sheets felt a bit damp. Also, for those who want total seclusion without any wi-fi or cell reception, this is your cottage. For those who need communications, be aware of the very poor reception. All in all, this fairy tale cottage comes very recommended. It's location, not far from the Sierra's or the beaches at Santander is excellent. Etel was a wonderful help during our stay. Five star cottage!"

We really loved our holiday at the Woodcutter's Cottage. A very different kind of holiday for us in the middle of nowhere and without wifi, but just what we needed! We live in Barcelona so it's pretty busy and hectic so a complete back to nature contrast for us! Etel, the keyholder was absolutely lovely and incredibly helpful, sending us restaurant recommendations, links to places of interest in the area and general info, she couldn't have done more., The house itself is really nicely done, quirky and rustic with lots of interesting features. We especially loved the outdoor seating area and the sauna was a great little treat everyday, especially somewhere pretty remote. Also the jacuzzi bath was another welcome luxury and the view from the bathroom window will stay in my memory banks for a long time. We've got two more dogs and of course they loved it too! I've also recommended Rustical Travel to a lot of people. I'm really impressed from the outset at your communication and obvious passion for Spain. I wanted to find something a bit off the beaten track and you definitely deliver that. The description, photographs and information you provide is great. I'll be booking again and thank you so much for your attention to detail. Until the next time, Muchas gracias"

The cottage is fantastic... Rustical Travel staff were brilliant as was Ella who came to meet us at the cottage... There's nothing more to say"

The Woodcutter's Cottage is unique and beautiful. This was our second visit, we enjoyed it just as much as the first. If you like rustic cooking in a wood fired oven, barbecuing, bird song and the sound of cow bells, it's the place for you. Near enough to a village and small town not to be isolated and only 45 minutes from Santander. We had first class service while we were there."

We had a fabulous, calm and peaceful holiday in the Woodcutter Cottage. A fabulous combination of rustic charm and all modern facilities.....and more. The cottage was equipped with even more facilities than listed. Despite the weather being wet a lot of the time (which was to be expected when we went in April) we still enjoyed fantastic views across the mountains and to the sea. Indeed on the wettest day we 'went for it' and had a BBQ in the covered terrace. We found the people of this area to be particularly friendly and helpful bearing in mind this is not a 'full English breakfast sold here' (thank goodness) area. Made use of the sauna too which was a lovely bonus. The owner actually speaks very good English which was helpful as our Spanish is non existent. We would recommend this property for those looking for a country retreat holiday. Our only comment, which didn't effect us personally is that if two couples were to share the property the lounge only has comfortable seating for two on a small sofa, but for a couple there is no problem. Must also mention the very friendly bar/restaurant at Bustabaldo(?) very good food, amazing prices and fantastic people, definitely worth a visit, or two."

We had a wonderful holiday. The house was even better than the photographs; it was the kind of place I imagine Heidi would have chosen after moving out of her grandfather's. It's unusual to find a holiday cottage made and furnished with such craftsmanship and imagination. Not only was it superly cosy inside but it also had all the creature comforts you could wish for - plus an outdoor wood oven and the best view from a bath I've ever had. The location was ideal; secluded woodland and within half an hour of lovely beaches and spectacular mountain scenery. We were met by the property owner who was very friendly and was always at the end of the phone if we needed help. Her English is excellent which really helped as our Spanish is very basic. We also found RusticalTravel very professional and responsive to our correspondence. The directions to the house were very comprehensive (with photographs of key junctions and rendezvous point) and the suggestions for places to visit/eat nearby were much appreciated."

The property was wonderfully secluded and very well equipped. We were given a lovely welcome by the owner who also texted a few days later to check all was well. The surrounding area is beautiful. We were also very impressed by the service offered by Rustical Travel and hope to use it again in the future."

This was a delightful cottage in a wonderful setting, peaceful, calm, just what we needed. The sauna was definitely an added bonus. We did find the lack of view a bit frustrating, there was so much we could have seen if the trees weren't quite so close to the house, however, in the heat of summer ( or a canicule as we have now) then I am sure it would have been most useful! Loved it Anna"

We had a lovely week at the woodcutters cottage, and even in the misty rains of June it has a very special feeling to it. A lot of love and care has gone into the restoration and the owners are wonderfully welcoming. A great place to just sit back, slow down and refresh yourself."

The stay at the cottage was like a visit to a fairy tale The view from the jacuzzi bath must be the best in the country certainly better than the five star hotel we stayed in before we visited the cottage The owners daughter who met us was really helpful and the whole experience was one of peace and relaxation The interior of the cottage is really artistic and interesting We loved it"

We cannot speak highly enough with regard to this property. We have hire many cottages over the years and very few have come even close to this one. Location, facilities, and welcome were all first class. We are seasoned travellers when it comes to seeking out and staying in Rural locations such as this, but the woodcutters cottages takes this to another level which we greatly appreciated. However we do feel that your description on the web site should do more to warn of the some of the cottages more rustic features."

Not long back from 2 weeks in Property AC20. One of the best holidays we've ever had. The house is beautiful, very well equipped, we have never before had a garlic crusher, pestle and mortar or a blender, let alone a clay oven.The owner is very friendly, considerate and helpful. She speaks perfect English too. I have a feeling we will be back."

Our stay at the woodcutter's cottage was magical. The setting is private and peaceful and the aesthetic of the house is rooted in traditional materials and impeccable rough-hewn craftsmanship. Everywhere you look there is rustic charm and beauty. We could have been living in another century. Except we also appreciated the modern conveniences - including the electric sauna. The owners, who built the cottage, are also wonderful and gracious. We highly recommend staying here and hope to return next year. Eileen & Kieran"